Friday, August 25, 2023
Welcome Back, Students
Pushing forward
Ethan Scott
Allyssa Ashby said OSU is a fresh start for her and her daughter, Paisley Coco, after the passing of her father and her fiancé.
Allyssa Ashby starts college four years after tragedy ation, her priorities shifted. death, a familiar connection reentered Ashby’s father, Brian Ashby, suf- Ashby’s life. Her high school sweetfered a brain aneurysm around 3 a.m. heart, Hunter Coco, reached out. and died. “Things just kind of changed for “It just kind of picked back up her, and so she wasn’t really thinking where we left off,” Ashby said. “We got about going to college pregnant a few weeks Bella Casey “What kinds of hardships or and her future and all of later.” News and Lifestyle those things,” said Lacy things come your way that you Their daughter, Assistant Editor Iakovakis, Ashby’s aunt. can always get out of it. You Paisley, was born in can make your life what you “It was just you know, 2021. The pair got enAllyssa Ashby was ready to start trying to get through that want it to be.” gaged and planned their her life after high school. Then she lost initial grief of her dad.” -Patsy Oaks wedding for June 2022. her dad. Two years later, she lost her Ashby’s grandAs their family fiancé. mother, Patsy Oaks, reflected on Brian’s formed, Hunter joined the local fire Ashby, 21, graduated from San presence in Ashby’s childhood: if department where his brother worked Marcos High School in San Marcos, Ashby was not with her, she was with as assistant chief, and Ashby worked at Texas, one year early at 17. She said she her father. He taught her to drive, and a large childcare facility as a preschool planned to enter the workforce or posthey shared a talent for drawing. teacher. sibly pursue a college degree. But Ashby pushed forward. In the summer of 2022, Hunter But on the night of Ashby’s graduNearly one year after her father’s and his brother were paged to extin-
guish a brush fire in a nearby town. The team climbed into the brush truck, put out the fire and began to drive back to the station. But a generator fell from the truck, forcing the team to turn around in search of it. As they approached an intersection, a car pulled out in front of the truck. It clipped the back of the car as it attempted to move out of the way, sending it into a nearby ditch. Hunter and his brother were killed. “I’m heartbroken,” Oaks said. “Like, I look at Paisley and sometimes just go off in my room by myself and cry because it’s like, Paisley will never really know her daddy.” See Tragedy on 4A
How freshmen can survive their first year Emi Norton Staff Reporter
Courtesy of OSU James Payne hopes to deepen his relationship with the student body during his time at OSU and is looking forward to getting involved in the different organizations.
New business dean takes the stage Emi Norton Staff Reporter As a first generation college student, James Payne accumulated an arsenal of collegiate certifications and degrees. He began his undergraduate degree at Brea College, a private school in Kentucky, where he quickly excelled in his economics degree. The personal connections that Payne made led him to pursue his Ph.D. at Florida State University, an accomplishment beyond his imagination. “I think early on the idea of opportunities awarded me with an appreciation of others ahead of me who provided some guidance
and thoughts on the opportunities that were there,” Payne said. As a first generation alumnus, Payne understands the struggle of pursuing higher education and strives to help students who are going through the same processes. “I think I bring with me an appreciation for students who are going through their first time in college, as it can sometimes be overwhelming for them,” Payne said. “I really try to work with students and help them to find their niche in areas that they’re really interested in pursuing. So, I think that experience I had as an undergrad translates well into today.” Teresa Lightner, the associ-
ate dean of business intelligence, said she is working closely with Payne. Lightner handles OSU’s Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation and oversees assessment, placement, data collection and analysis for many ranking surveys and various reports. “Dean Payne and I have a shared motivation and responsibility to lead Spears Business through AACSB accreditation during the 2023-2024 academic year,” Lightner said. “We are already working closely together to achieve that goal.” Lightner values adaptability and open-mindedness as essential characteristics for faculty and staff. See Dean on 5A
changed his life for the better, and he stressed the importance of diving into the course work. “Stay focused, keep Four thousand new calm, never give up and students arrived to Stillwa- have fun,” Doxey said. ter this week, ready to take “College will change your on campus. life for the better in so Campus resources, many ways.” organizations, clubs, Doxey reflected on night life and roommate things he wished knew etiquette are just a few of before entering into his the important aspects of freshman year. adjusting to campus. “I would say I wish Coller Doxey, a seI had time management nior graphic design major, down,” Doxey said. said valuing education See Freshmen Guide on 4A
Marcus Conrad Freshman year can be overwhelming, but growing both academically and socially are new experiences.